The Buena Vida Choice Neighborhood Initiative Built Partnerships for Affordable Housing and Community Strength in Brownsville.

In 2016, HUD awarded the Housing Authority and the City of Brownsville a planning grant to redevelop the existing public housing site into a mixed-income development and urban strategies for 360-acre neighborhood.

With Camiros as Planning Coordinator, HACB and the City of Brownsville (COB) partnered to lead efforts to transform the Buena Vida public housing complex and the surrounding Buena Vida neighborhood into a vibrant and resilient community of opportunity and choice.

The Buena Vida neighborhood is directly adjacent to Downtown Brownsville and within a mile of the International Brownsville Gateway Port of Entry into Mexico. The neighborhood is 97% Hispanic and 57% of residents are below the poverty level.

The Choice Neighborhood Plan built HACB’s long-term commitment to maximize partnerships to increase the supply of affordable housing, help HACB residents become fully self-sufficient, and contribute to the strength of Brownsville neighborhoods. As partners and residents began to work together to create the CN Plan, “Creating Community Connections” has emerged as the shared vision.

Throughout the planning process, over 60 meetings, events and activities generated incredible excitement and momentum towards positive change in the Buena Vida Choice Neighborhood. Along the way, significant local capacity was built to insure implementation success.